A new method for analysing change in high-dimensional data is based on nearest-neighbour statistics and is applied here to song dynamics during vocal learning in zebra finches, but could potentially be applied to other biological and artificial behaviours.
Changes in behaviour resulting from environmental influences, development and learning(1-5) are commonly quantified on the basis of a few hand-picked features(2-4,6,7) (for example, the average pitch of acoustic vocalizations(3)), assuming discrete classes of behaviours (such as distinct vocal syllables)(2,3,8-10). However, such methods generalize poorly across different behaviours and model systems and may miss important components of change. Here we present a more-general account of behavioural change that is based on nearest-neighbour statistics(11-13), and apply it to song development in a songbird, the zebra finch(3). First, we introduce the concept of '
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